Method of making an earth puzzle

ABSTRACT

An earth puzzle including sphere formed of magnetizable material and a plurality of puzzle pieces which may be placed on the sphere to form a world globe. The puzzle pieces are retained on the sphere by permanent magnets attached to the underside of the puzzle pieces. In making the aforementioned structure, the sphere is first fabricated from magnetizable material. A second sphere is molded on the first sphere after which a representation of the world is painted or otherwise placed on the second sphere. The second sphere is then cut into puzzle pieces and removed from the first sphere. Permanent magnets are then suitably attached to the underside of the puzzle pieces which may then be placed on the first sphere to form a world globe with the permanent magnets retaining the pieces on the first sphere.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Bette Abel] Barnes 1210 SheridanLane, Beaumont, Tex. 77706 [21] Appl. No. 15,995 [22] Filed Mar. 3, 1970[45] Patented Nov. 9, 1971 [54] METHOD OF MAKING AN EARTH PUZZLE 4Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 273/157 R, 35/46 A, 264/152, 264/163 [51] Int. Cl A63i9/12, G09b 27/08 [50] Field of Search 273/157 R; 35/46 A; 264/132, 152,163

[56] Reiereuces Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 878,308 2/1908 Patesson264/132 X 2,002,077 5/1935 Darling et a1. 273/157 R 2,957,251 10/1960Nystad et al. 273/157 R Primary Examiner-Anton O. OeschsleAttorney-Beveridge & DeGrandi ABSTRACT: An earth puzzle including sphereformed of magnetizable material and a plurality of puzzle pieces whichmay be placed on the sphere to form a world globe. The puzzle pieces areretained on the sphere by permanent magnets attached to the underside ofthe puzzle pieces. in making the aforementioned structure, the sphere isfirst fabricated from magnetizable material. A second sphere is moldedon the first sphere after which a representation of the world is paintedor otherwise placed on the second sphere. The second sphere is then cutinto puzzle pieces and removed from the first sphere. Permanent magnetsare then suitably attached to the underside of the puzzle pieces whichmay then be placed on the first sphere to form a world globe with thepermanent magnets retaining the pieces on the first sphere.

PATENIEDNUV 9 IHYI 3,618,955

INVENTOR BETTE ABELL BARNES BY 5mm 3211M ATTORNEYS METHOD OF MAKING ANEARTH PUZZLE This invention relates to a method of making a puzzle ofthe type wherein pieces are assembled to form a world globe.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel methodfor making a puzzle of the type which contains pieces which may beassembled together to form a world globe.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a methodof making such a puzzle having novel means for securing its pieces inassembled relationship.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method ofmaking such a puzzle whose pieces may be quickly and easilydisassembled.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a method ofrelatively economically manufacturing such a puzzle, with the puzzlehaving an attractive appearance and the ability to withstand repeateduse over long periods.

The above and other objects are achieved in one embodiment, by a firstsphere made from magnetizable material such as sheet iron or plastichaving iron or other magnetizable particles therein. A plurality ofpuzzle pieces are maintained on the first sphere by permanent magnetssecured to the underside of the puzzle pieces to be attracted to themagnetizable material of the sphere.

Further according to the invention, a method of making theaforementioned puzzle structure includes forming the first sphere fromany suitable magnetizable material or from plastic or other materialcontaining magnetizable particles. The second sphere, preferably madefrom plastic, is molded on the first sphere after which a representationof the world is painted or otherwise placed on the second sphere. Thesecond sphere is then cut into various pieces to separate the piecesfrom the first sphere and to thereby form puzzle pieces some of whichmay be cut at random and others may be cut in the form of a continent orother subdivisions of the world as may be desired. Permanent magnets arethen attached to the underside of each of the puzzle pieces to enablethe puzzle pieces to be subsequently assembled on the first sphere toform a world globe.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description taken inconjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sphere employed in making the puzzleof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second sphere formed on the sphereshown in FIG. 1 during a further step in making the puzzle of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along lines 33 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating arepresentation of the world painted on the outer sphere during a furtherstep in the method of making the puzzle;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating puzzle pieces whichare cut from the outer sphere; and

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a puzzle piece with a permanent magnetattached to its underside.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1illustrates a sphere 10 mounted on a suitable stand or base 12; thesphere 10 being formed from any suitable magnetizable material such assheet iron but preferably from molded plastic containing magnetizableiron or other particles.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 there is illustrated a further step informing the puzzle of the present invention wherein a second sphere 12is formed by molding over the first sphere; the second sphere preferablybeing formed from plastic material.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a representation of the world is painted orotherwise formed on the outer sphere 14. In the next step as illustratedin FIG. 5, outer sphere 14 is cut to form puzzle pieces 16 which areremoved from inner sphere 10. Pieces 16 may be cut in random shapes orpart! in random shapes and partly to form continents or other sudivisions of the world.

After puzzle pieces 16 are formed and removed from the inner sphere,permanent magnets 18 are suitably attached, such as by bonding or anyother suitable method, to the undersides of pieces 16 as illustrated inFIG. 6. Puzzle pieces 16 may then be reassembled on inner sphere 10 toform a world globe. When it is desired to disassemble puzzle pieces I6from sphere 10, pieces 16 may be easily removed by merely pulling themfrom sphere 10. In this latter regard, the magnets are chosen so thatthey will have sufficient strength to properly maintain the puule pieces16 on sphere 10 in selected position while at the same time permittingthe puzzle pieces to be moved over sphere 10 during assembly and to beeasily removed during disassembly of the entire puule.

Although in the embodiment illustrated, a permanent magnet material isplaced on the puzzle pieces in an alternative embodiment, the permanentmagnet material may be formed or incorporated into the inner sphere l0and the puzzle pieces may be formed of magnetizable material. In theshown embodiment, the surface 9 of the permanent magnets which are toengage the inner sphere 10, may be formed with a curvature to conform tothe inner sphere.

Iclaim:

l. A method of forming an earth puzzle comprising the steps of providinga sphere including magnetizable material, molding a second sphere onsaid first sphere, placing a representation of the world on said secondsphere, cutting said second sphere into pieces and removing them fromsaid first sphere to form puzzle pieces, and placing permanent magnetmaterial on the undersides of said pieces to allow them to bereassembled and held on the first sphere to form a world globe.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the first sphere is formed fromplastic containing magnetizable particles and wherein said second sphereis molded from plastic.

3. The method defined in claim I wherein certain puzzle pieces are cutat random while others are cut to form continents of the world.

4. A method of forming an earth puzzle comprising the steps of forming afirst sphere with permanent magnet material incorporated therein,forming a second sphere over said first sphere from magnetizablematerial, placing a representation of the world on said second sphere,cutting said second sphere into various pieces and removing them fromsaid first sphere to form puzzle pieces which may be reassembled andheld by magnetism on the first sphere to from a world globe.

1. A method of forming an earth puzzle comprising the steps of providinga sphere including magnetizable material, molding a second sphere onsaid first sphere, placing a representation of the world on said secondsphere, cutting said second sphere into pieces and removing them fromsaid first sphere to form puzzle pieces, and placing permanent magnetmaterial on the undersides of said pieces to allow them to bereassembled and held on the first sphere to form a world globe.
 2. Themethod defined in claim 1 wherein the first sphere is formed fromplastic containing magnetizable particles and wherein said second sphereis molded from plastic.
 3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein certainpuzzle pieces are cut at random while others are cut to form continentsof the world.
 4. A method of forming an earth puzzle comprising thesteps of forming a first sphere with permanent magnet materialincorporated therein, forming a second sphere over said first spherefrom magnetizable material, placing a representation of the world onsaid second sphere, cutting said second sphere into various pieces andremoving them from said first sphere to form puzzle pieces which may bereassembled and held by magnetism on the first sphere to from a worldglobe.